Planning A Conference This Year And Looking For Something New?

If you are planning a conference or training this year, we offer a variety of programs designed to provide a greater understanding of the LGBTQ+ community for law enforcement. Now more than ever, law enforcement officers need a working understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity differences. Whether it’s gaining a better understanding of co-workers or knowing how to better serve members of the community, we can provide the training you need. Here are descriptions of some of the programs we offer.

LGBT Awareness For Law Enforcement

Homophobia is fueled largely by fear and a general lack of knowledge about sexual orientation and gender identity. Non-heterosexuality can pose challenges for conservative belief systems and result in hostile work environments, civil litigation, and less than satisfactory service to the community. Two studies published 2013 and 2015 by UCLA’s Williams Institute showed that homophobia is pervasive throughout law enforcement in the United States. These studies looked at internal and external events with law enforcement and LGBT people.

This program includes an interactive discussion of stereotypes and an explanation of the sexual orientation and gender identity spectrum. It can also include strategies for handling LGBT related domestic violence calls for service and hate crimes investigations involving LGBT victims.

We begin this program with a strong statement of intent: “We are not here to tell you that your religious beliefs, personal values systems or morals are wrong. We are here to share information and to help you be a more supportive colleague and more effective in serving the LGBT people in your community. To understand and accept someone else does not require your agreement. As a law enforcement officer, you obligation is to treat everyone fairly and equally, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity and regardless of your own personal beliefs.”

It’s not a matter of if or when an LGBT employee will be hired – they are already working in law enforcement organizations throughout the country. The issue is whether or not these colleagues of ours feel confident and comfortable coming out and being out at work. When law enforcement officers understand LGBT colleagues, they are likely to be more comfortable in the field when serving LGBT members of the community.

Our Journey – Celebrating Pride Every Day

Everyone has a journey that has been shaped largely by the people we meet and by the events that have touched us along the way. Greg Miraglia begins by discussing his own journey that started in 1976 just about the time when Proposition 6, a California voter initiative that would have ban all LGBT people from employment in public schools, was being considered in the State. Mr. Miraglia talks about how events like the murder of Harvey Milk, the AIDS crisis, and the murder of Matthew Shepard impacted his perception of what it meant to be gay. He explains the homophobia he experienced first-hand when entering law enforcement and how he managed a very successful career before finally coming out in 2004.

This program includes a number of videos offering an emotional experience as the history of the LGBT civil rights movement is explored from the 1960’s through today. Mr. Miraglia discusses the huge gains in civil rights realized here in the United States while pointing out that a movement in the opposite direction is happening in other parts of the world. In this program. Mr. Miraglia shows the audience that it’s not laws and policies that are going to make things better for law enforcement or the rest of the world. It is only by coming out and sharing our stories that we can change minds and hearts. Becoming proud of who you are takes courage and internal strength, but celebrating pride shouldn’t be a once-a-year event. The challenge for us all is to celebrate our pride every day. This is how we can change the world and help other understand LGBT people better.

Panel Discussion With LGBT Law Enforcement Professionals

One of the most effective ways of learning about the LGBT community is to hear the stories of LGBT people who are working in law enforcement. We have an amazing team of professionals with a wide range of age, rank, and experience. We can bring a panel to your organization or, better yet, bring your organization to the LGBT community. We can immerse you in the LGBT community by providing a walking tour of the historic Castro District in San Francisco and include a round-table style panel discussion with LGBT law enforcement professionals. This experience has received high praise from new recruits to seasoned veterans. Like the programs above, our goals is to increase awareness through education and experience. Our intent is to create a non-threatening open environment where participants can ask questions and engage in discussion with our experts.

We can also provide:

Work Place Harassment And Discrimination Prevention Training

Customized Training That Creates A Supportive Environment For LGBT Personnel

Policy And Procedure Development And Review

Keynote And Special Event Presentations

Litigation And Expert Witness Consultation

New Online Training Coming In 2017

This year we will be launching a brand new online version of our LGBT Awareness training for law enforcement. This training will provide the basic knowledge that law enforcement officers need to better understand and service members of the LGBTQ+ community.